Interviews: Ask "The King of Kong" Billy Mitchell About Classic Video Games

samzenpus (5) writes Billy Mitchell owns the Rickey's World Famous Restaurant chain, sells his own line of hot sauces, and was called, "probably the greatest arcade-video-game player of all time". He was the first to achieve a perfect score in Pac-Man, and held many record scores in other arcade games. He is probably most famous for the 2007 documentary,"The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters". The film follows a challenger on his quest to surpass Billy's high score in Donkey Kong, which Mitchell had set in 1982. Since the film was made, the Kong crown has been held by a number people including twice by Mitchell. Billy has agreed to put down the quarters and answer any questions you might have. As usual, ask as many as you'd like, but please, one question per post.

Re:A Lost Era

[Dok.P]

As an amateur operator, with only about 100 or so games, the claim that the classic arcade era is dead, is a grave mistake. Barcade is wildly successful all over the country, and Arcade "museums" are as popular as ever. Perhaps the days of getting burned by an older kid being careless with his cigarette in a jam packed mall arcade are finished, but that's no real great loss.